Sir Aubrey Lewis alone: 1966-1975
Hilda died after a short illness in 1966, just a month after Aubrey’s retirement. He continued to write, producing articles and reviewing regularly for the Times Literary Supplement. When Parkinson’s disease made handwriting too difficult, he dictated his work to a typist. He died in 1975.
Sir Aubrey Lewis was formally presented with his portrait at his retirement dinner, September 1966. Commissioned by the Maudsley Hospital, it was painted by Ruskin Spear, and now hangs in the Institute of Psychiatry. In his thank you speech, Aubrey said, 'The result is, as far as I can tell, a fine picture. I do not know how far it is like me, but I suspect that Mr Spear has done a little of what they say was the effect of Titian’s portrait painting: “under his brush every sparrow becomes an eagle” ' (ref: IOP/PP3/11/2)
Sir Aubrey Lewis with Princess Alexandra at the formal opening of Hilda Lewis House for mentally disabled children, Bethlem Royal Hospital, May 1971. This short-term residential unit existed for 21 years, closing in 1992 (ref: IOP/PP3/11/10)
Aubrey’s eldest daughter Naomi (on right), at his farewell retirement dinner in September 1966. Hilda was too ill to attend (ref: IOP/PP3/11/2).
An affectionate cartoon of Sir Aubrey Lewis, on the front cover of the Bethlem Maudsley Hospital Gazette for autumn 1966, which included tributes from colleagues past and present (ref: IOP/PP3/10/2).
In this exhibition
- The early years: 1900-1934
- 'Aubrey and Hilda made their mark': 1934-1966
- Sir Aubrey Lewis alone: 1966-1975
- Aubrey Lewis: in his own words